TAXACEJE. 



slightly revolute, about an inch long ; dark green, smooth and shining 

 above ; paler, with a prominent midrib, beneath, terminating in a small 

 harmless point. Flowers axillary, solitary, each from a scaly imbricated 

 bud ; the barren ones light brown, white with abundant pollen : fertile 

 green, resembling, with their scaly bracteas, a little acorn. Fruit 

 drooping, consisting of a sweet, internally glutinous, scarlet berry, open 

 at the top, enclosing an oval brown seed, unconnected with the fleshy 

 part. Smith. Leaves fetid, very poisonous, especially to horses and 

 cows. Berries are not dangerous. Seeds said to be unwholesome. 

 On the authority of an Italian physician it is stated that yew-leaves, 

 when administered in small doses to man have a power similar to that 

 of Digitalis, on the action of the heart and arteries, reducing the circu- 

 lation, and if persisted in too long, or given in too large doses, as 

 certainly fatal. Yew is however reported to have one decided advan- 

 tage over Digitalis by its effects not accumulating in the system j so 

 that it is a much more manageable and more efficient remedy. Burnett. 



558 



